Putt direction finding method



Dec. 27, 1966 R. H. CRONWELL PUTT DIRECTION FINDING METHOD INVETR RALPHH. CRONWELL Filed April 20, 1964 p ll z United States Patent Ofifice3,293,755 PUTT DIRECTION FINDING METHOD Ralph H. Cronwell, 964 W. VillaDrive, Des Plaines, Ill. 60018 Filed Apr. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 360,885 3Claims. (Cl. 3346) The present invention relates to an article andmethod for facilitating learning of the art of putting on a sloped orundulated green. This invention is characterized 'by utilizing gravityto position a direction indicating pointer, or the like, after firstorienting the article with respect to an object or goal, such as a golfcup, for example. Thereafter, the article is repositioned to the firstoriented position. The position of the pointer in respose will thenindicate a .proper direction for putting a golf ball, whereby tofacilitate learning and perfecting the putting stroke in the game ofgolf.

Putting greens on golf courses are designed with a certain minimum gradeor slope so that rain water, as well as water from sprinklers, willdrain away from the green and not remain to soften the turf excessively.The minimum grade maybe a small percent grade, on the order of one ortwo percent, for example, and the maximum grade desired for a green mayapproach a or 11 percent grade as a high value. Most green grades areusually kept between such values of slope. Still other greens are leftas naturally undulated so that not too great an amount of earth need bemoved in order to construct a proper foundation for the turf on thegreen.

A grade or slope approaching a 10 percent grade will rise about one footin 10 feet of distance up the grade.

With a ball resting in such manner that the grade is transverse of thedirection from the ball to the cup on the putting green, the balls willfollow a curving path of travel from the point at which the ball hasbeen stroked toward the cup. For short putts, the lateral distance ofthe path of travel of a ball is small, and for thirty to forty footputts this transverse travel may be as much as three to four feet.

It has been ascertained that whether a putt be 10 feet long, forexample, or a distance of 30 feet, the angle at which a ball must bestroked relative to the direct line of sight to the cup is the same toput the ball in a path of travel so the ball will reach the cup whenstruck with a proper amount of force. It is significant in connectionwith this invention and the method of using the article of manufacturecomprising the invention, that the grade or slope transverse of thedirection of the ball to the cup may be considered substantiallyconstant for uniformly graded greens and for different distances fromthe cup, within reasonable tolerance, between the position of the balland the cup. Because this relationship, regardless of distance of putt,is a function of a uniform grade, such uniformly graded greens can beputted very accurately by use of this article and the method of thisinvention. In addition, undulated greens can be read in a manner to bepointed out more fully below in the explanation of method of use of thearticle. With the device, it is evident that within the skill of theplayer, a rough approximation of the stroke direction may be had andlikewise with suitable skill of the player, the stroke direction willbecome more accurately determined, and also obviously is influenced byphysical factors influencing the path of travel of the ball which inturn depends upon the condition of the green.

A broad object of this invention is to provide a golf green, or thelike, slope-reader for rendering quick and accurate readings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new article ofmanufacture for enabling a golfer to accurately read a green and beprovided with a direction line indicating the proper direction in whichto stroke the ball even Patented Dec. 27, 1966 though this direction isnot in the line of sight directly to the cup.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of learningputting on sloping greens using an article of the kind set forth in thepreceding object.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pendulum in an articleof manufacture adapted to both align the article with the cup in theline of sight thereof and thereafter be moved by gravity upon rotationof the pendulum to a substantial vertical alignment of the top thereofand the pivot axis thereof whereby a pointer will be aligned withrelationship to a referencesurface in accordance with the slope or gradeof the surface contact.

A further object in keeping with the above objects is to provide meansfor maintaining the pendulum in a gravity-adjusted position whilepositioning same to another position of repose wherein the article isread whereby to attain a reading indicative of a line for stroking agolf ball, or the like.

A further object of the device and method used in connection therewithis to provide an article having indicia in percent of grade for enablinggolf course architects, and the like, to ascertain grades readily.

Other objects and advantages of the article and method ofthis inventionresides in the details of construction, the arrangement of parts and theway in which the article is used for learning the art of putting, andwill be either obvious or pointed out in the following specification andclaims when read in view of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing lines of sight and lines for stroking of agolf ball;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of a modification of the inventionproviding different friction means for maintaining the position of thependulum upon rotation of the case containing same; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a further modificationfor maintaining the position of the pendulum when the case therefor ismoved.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a golf cup 10 may be placed suitably in thesurface of a green having a downward grade in the direction of the arrow11 of a value of approximately a 10 percent grade. A, golf ball 12 maybe positioned 10 feet from the cup and a golf ball 14 may be positionedat 30 feet from the cup by way of example only. With the grade 11 beinguniform for the surface of the green between the position of balls 12and 14 with relationship to the cup 10, the balls need be puttedrespectively along lines of travel 15 and 16 and/or the S-shaped curve16'. This line of travel presumes that the golfer has applied the properforce to cause the balls 12 and 14 to roll a distance sufiicient toreach the cup without too much extra force to drive it more than a fewinches beyond as a maximum to attain the paths of travel 15 and 16.

In order toattain the paths of travel 15 and 16, the ball 12 must bestroked so as to roll initially along a line of sight 18, and the ball14 must be stroked to roll along a line of sight 19. The article orinstrument to be described below aifords such a reading of the greens.It is to be noted that the lines of sight 18 and 19 are parallel whenthe grade 11 is uniform in the direction shown and is a 10 percentgrade. At the scale of the diagram of FIG. 1, the transverse distanceadjacent the cup of the line of sight 18 and the line of travel 15 ofthe ball-12 is approximately one foot. The distance between the line ofsight 19 and the transverse movement of the path of travel 16 of theball 14 is about three feet. The ball 14 may follow the path of travelof the S-shaped curve 16' to the cup depending upon the contour of thegreen.

FIG. 2 shows an article 8 as comprising a pair of identical halves 20and 21 that may be suitably secured together as by cement or a heatprocess, with many plastics. Although this device is not limited toconstruction from the plastics, it is preferred that at least the upperparts containing a pendulum 22 be transparent, or exposed in part,sufiiciently to permit reading of a line of sight 24 on the pendulum 22.The parts 20 and 21 each contain elongated bottom halves 25 and 26 whichmay be identical and when secured together by any suitable means forminga cylindrical base portion. It is not essential to the invention that acylindrical shape be provided although this is a smooth shape and doesnot present any rough surfaces. It is desirable to carry the articleabout, so it is sized to fit into a golfers pocket, or a pocket in agolf bag. Accordingly, the article is preferably only about four incheswide by five inches total height for certain uses. Of course, otherlarger and smaller dimensions may be desirable for the article if it isto be used by golf course architects, or the like, to obtain gradereadings at places other than green grades, for example.

A line of sight 24 on a pointer end of a pendulum 22 is adapted tocooperate with at least one reference indicia 27, which may be either atthe top or bottom of the enclosure portions of the casing parts 20 and21. The pendulum 22 is provided with any suitable pivots and, as shown,has conical pivots 30 on opposite sides thereof which can freely rock onedges of conical cavities 32 in the parts 20 and 21, as best shown inFIG. 3. In addition, FIG. 3 shows internal clearances 34in the caseparts 20 and 21 on both sides of the pendulum when the same is in theposition shown in FIG. 3. In this vertical position, the pendulum 22 isfree to move by gravity around the pivot points 30 and 32 to take analignment at an angle with the bottom surface and/ or line of contact 35of contact of the parts 25 and 26. The article can be rotated in eitherdirection of arrows 37 to a position substantially 90 away from theposition shown in FIG. 3 in which either of points 38 may repose uponthe surface of the green, shown in dotted lines at 40.

With the bottom surface 35 of the article in engagement with the surface40, which in this example is a 10 percent grade, the line 24 will moveto the broken line position 24a. For the purpose of aiding a golfer inputting by reading the green with this instrument 8, there is no needfor indicia to show this 10 percent grade to use this device, as willappear more fully below in the description of the method of use of thearticle.

A roughened interior surface 42 is shown on each of the surfacesinterior of the parts 20 and 21 of the article adjacent the pivotcavities 32. Similar roughened surfaces 44 are provided on both sides ofthe pendulum so that the same can be mounted in either direction eventhough only one side of the article 8 is transparent for attaining auseful article for a putting aid, or a grade reading device, or thelike. When the article is rotated around the line of contact 35 in thedirection of arrows 37, after only a few degrees of tilting which willnot change the reading of the line 24 on the pendulum 22, the cones 30will ride into the cavities 32 and the roughened surfaces 42 and 44 willengage each other to prevent any rotation of the pendulum. In additionto this,

the heavy bottom part 46 of the pendulum will engage cavities 32a aredifferent from the cavities 32 in that each present edges 50 which willfrictionally engage the sides of the cones 30a after only a few degreesof movement of the pendulum to frictionally lock the cones 30a with thecavities 32a. Such construction can eliminate roughened surfaces, andthe article presents a different appearance and may be more desirablefor some uses of the article 8. Of course, the bottom of the pendulum22a can likewise contact the insides of the casing further to preventrelative rotation of pendulum 22a when the article 8 is rotated in thedirection of arrows 37, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of an article 9 comprising at least onedifferent casing part 55 preferably provided with an open window 56 or aflexible wall, or the like, into which an operators thumb or finger canextend to cause engagement of the bottom portion 46 of the pendulum 22with internal side surfaces of the article 9. The pivot 58 may be ametal pin for more rugged construction and the article itself may belarger than the articles previously described which are, in preferredform, sized to fit a golfers pocket, or a pocket in the golf bag.

The article 9 in FIG. 5 carries grade percentage indicia 60 which, incooperation with the end of the pointer 61 of the pendulum 22 may readgrades up to a 30 percent grade, for example. Of course, a greaterdistance of reading can be provided by wider case parts in this device,if such is desirable.

A golf course architect can use this article 9 without having to stoopdown excessively to attain a grade reading. The bottom 35 may be set ona grade that may be the side of a bunker or a sand trap, or the like, todetermine this type grade as well as the grades of greens. With thesurface 35 in engagement of a surface to be read, and the pendulum inrepose in a vertical position, the thumb or finger of the user can beplaced through the window 56, or compress the flexible area 46, at atleast one side of the article so as to frictionally engage the area 46of the pendulum 22 with the other side of the case containing thependulum. The article 9 can then be lifted up for reading at aconvenient level.

Method of using the article FIGURE 1 diagrammatically represents twoputt lines of travel by broken lines 15 and 16 respectively for 10 footand 30 foot putts. Lines 18 and 19 represent a proper line of sight on atransverse ten percent grade for stroking the golf ball to attain thepaths of travels 15 and 16 when the ball is stroked with a proper amountof force. To establish the lines of sight 18 and 19, the article 8 isplaced with one side flat upon the green with the transparent side 20 or21 thereof facing upwardly and with the mark 24 on the pendulum pointer22 aligned with one or more of the marks 27 upon the casing 20 or 21, orboth. Similarly the article 9 shown in FIG. 5 can also be thus used andthe open window 56 is of assistance because the line 61 thereof can bealigned manually with the zero grade mark 60, and can be thus held whilethe user aligns the mark 61, FIG. 5, or as in use of article 8, mark 24,FIG. 2, to point directly toward the golf cup 10 along a line of sight65, FIG. 1.

It is further convenient to aid in long putts, on the order of 20 feetand over, to lay the handle of the putter, in alignment with the marks61, FIG. 5 or 25, FIG. 2, to further assist in establishing the properdirection toward the cup by bending down at a viewing point below theball 14 and using one eye only to sight along the line 24 or 61, as wellas the handle of the golf club. With this method, a very accuratealignment can be attained directed to the green numbering stick, notshown, retained in the center of the cup 10.

With the article so layed upon the surface of the green, the article canbe carefully rotated on the bottom portions 25 and 26 until the line ofcontact 35 at the bottom thereof is in contact with the surface and thependulum within the article is vertical and free to rotate under theinfluence of gravity. Gravity may move the mark 24, FIG. 2, to thedotted line position 24a when the line of contact 35 contacts the greensurface 40 with substantially only the weight of the article maintainingsuch engagement of the article upon the surface.

After the pendulum 46 has ceased to oscillate, which oscillation can bearrested quickly with the article shown in FIG. 5, the case is laid backto the initial position of the repose with the marks 27 still inalignment between the ball 14 and the cup 10. The pointer 24, however,will be in alignment with line 24a and will point along the line ofsight 19 for a 30 foot putt, for example.

For practice purposes, a marker, such as a coin or the like, may beplaced at a point 66 and will be positioned approximately three feetfrom the cup in this particular example. The golfer can then stroke theball 14 in the direction of the marker 66. If the ball is stroked withproper force to reach the cup substantially spent in speed, the ballshould at least be close to the cup when the green is uniform and thecondition of the turf thereon of ordinary texture and condition. It hasbeen found possible to rather consistently sink long putts. For putts,of ten feet for example, the same steps as above are taken and themarker placed at a point 68 about a foot from the cup for the 10 footpercent transverse grade. The putted ball is directed toward the marker68 and will follow the path if putted with proper force. If has beenfound that such putts can be made consistently in one stroke by usingthe above-described method.

As mentioned briefly above, many greens on some of the more difiicultgolf courses are intentionally undulated to try the skill of expertgolfers. The articles 8 and 9 are particularly useful in such conditionswhere reverse undulations may occur between a position of the golf ball14, for example, and the cup 10. For example, if the downward slope istransverse and directed to the left, in FIG. 1, for a portion of thedistance between the ball 14 and the position of the ball 12, differentreadings may be taken to find the point change in direction of anundulation which may be downward and toward the right between theposition of the ball 12 and the cup 10. The slope finder can be placedin different positions to conveniently find the point of changeover, anda reference marker 68 be placed at such point.

Under such conditions, an expert golfter would not putt initially towardthe position of the marker 66, but would putt toward an intermediatemarker 68 but with sufficient speed applied to cause the ball to passthe point 12 in substantially the opposite direction from the path oftravel 15 so that the arc of travel from the point 12 to the cup 10would be opposite in curvature to the line of travel 15. To aid indetermining the proper direction of travel of the ball 14, a golf clubhandle can be properly aligned at the point 12, substantially asdescribed above.

A novice golfer, by using these devices 8 and 9, can attain skill inputting by following instructions, such as the diagram FIG. 1 forexample, in a much shorter period of time. Golfers having little slopeperception faculties further may be assisted by use of these articlesand methods.

While I have shown and described in detail different presently preferredmodifications and uses of the article and method, obviously othermodifications and uses will occur to others working in the art.Accordingly, I ,wish not to be limited in my invention only to thespecific embodiments and uses shown and described, but by the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of facilitating putting a golf ball into a cup on slopedgreens comprising the steps of providing a pendulum with flat-sidedsupport having a green surface contacting edge, providing the supportand pendulum with reference indicia at a angle with respect to saidedge, laying the support in a first position of repose on the flat sidethereof on the green with the pendulum indicia in registry with thesupport indicia and With the indicia pointed toward the cup in thegreen, rotating the pendulum to vertical position around the edge of thesupport permitting the pendulum to move by gravity to a second positionof repose indicative of the slope of the green, rotating the supportback around said edge to the first position of repose on the green whilepreventing relative movement of the pendulum with respect to thesupport, and putting a golf ball in the direct-ion then indicated by thesecond position of repose of the pendulum whereby to compensate forlateral roll of the golf ball due to slope of the green.

2. A method of facilitating putting a golf ball into a cup on slopedgolf greens and the like, comprising the steps of providing a pendulumwith a fiat-sided support having a green surface contacting edge,providing the support and said pendulum with reference indicia, theindicia on said support being at a 90 angle with respect to said edgeand aligned with the pivot of said pendulum, laying the support in afirst position of repose on the flat side thereof on the green with thependulum indicia in registry with the support indicia and with theindicia pointed toward the cup in the green, rotating the pendulum to avertical position around the edge of the support permitting the pendulumto move by gravity to a second position of repose indicative of theslope of the green, rotating the support around said edge back to thefirst position of repose on the green while preventing relative movementof the pendulum with respect to the support, and putting a golf ball inthe direction indicated by the pendulurn indicia in the second positionof repose of the pendulum whereby to compensate for lateral roll of thegolf ball due to slope of the green to thereby facilitate learning inthe art of putting.

3. A method for facilitating putting on sloped golf greens and the like,comprising the steps of providing a pendulum in the vertical leg of aT-shaped support, providing the support and pendulum with referenceindicia at a 90 angle with respect to a green contacting surface on thecrossbar of the support, laying the support on the green with thependulum indicia in registry with the support indicia and with samepointed toward the cup in the green, rotating the pendulum to verticalinverted-T-position around the line of contact of the cross-bar of thesupport with the green thus permitting the pendulum to move by gravityto a position of repose, rotating the support back to its initialposition on the green while preventing relative movement of the pendulumwith respect to the support, and putting a golf ball in the directionlast indicated by the pendulum whereby to compensate for lateral roll ofthe golf ball due to transverse slope of the green.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,012 8/1891Bransford 33-2151 X 1,132,349 3/1915 Hurd 33 215.1 1,373,336 3/1921Knapp 33-2151 1,498,631 6/1924 Korlickf 2,694,865 11/1954 L6 Pera33-2151 3,182,401 5/1965 Stevens 33-46.05

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF FACILITATING PUTTING A GOLF BALL INTO A CUP ON SLOPEDGREENS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A PENDULUM WITH FLAT-SIDEDSUPPORT HAVING A GREEN SURFACE CONTACT EDGE, PROVIDING THE SUPPORT ANDPENDULUM WITH REFERENCE INDICIA AT A 90* ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAIDEDGE, LAYING THE SUPPORT IN A FIRST POSITION OF REPOSE ON THE FLAT SIDETHEREOF ON THE GREEN WITH THE PENDULUM INDICIA IN REGISTRY WITH THESUPPORT INDICIA AND WITH THE INDICIA POINTED TOWARD THE CUP IN THEGREEN, ROTATING THE PENDULUM TO VERTICAL POSITION AROUN THE EDGE OF THESUPPORT PERMITTING THE PENDULUM TO MOVE BY GRAVITY TO A SECOND POSITIONOF REPOSE INDICATIVE OF THE SLOPE OF THE GREEN, ROTATING THE SUPPORTBACK AROUND SAID EDGE TO THE FIRST POSITION OF REPOSE ON THE GREEN WHILEPREVENTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE PENDULUM WITH RESPECT TO THESUPPORT, AND PUTTING A GOLF BALL IN THE DIRECTION THEN INDICATED BY THESECOND POSITION OF REPOSE OF THE PENDULUM WHEREBY TO COMPENSATE FORLATERAL ROLL OF THE GOLF BALL DUE TO SLOPE OF THE GREEN.